Secure tokens for controlling access to a resource in a resource distribution network

ABSTRACT

A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a global token based on a time duration specified for multiple meters that are in communication with the headend system through at least a mesh network in a normal condition. The global token is associated with the time duration and is applicable to the multiple meters. The headend system causes the global token to be broadcast via a broadcast network. After receiving the global token, the meter verifies the global token and determines the time duration associated with the global token. The meter further connects premises associated with the meter to a resource distribution network for at least the time duration associated with the global token.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to controlling access to a resource ina resource distribution network. More particularly, this disclosurerelates to generating and applying different types of device-levelsecure tokens to meters in a resource distribution network to controlthe access to the resource.

BACKGROUND

In the current advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), there are limitedoptions for applying a payment to meters in a resource distributionnetwork due to the complexity and the potential security issuesassociated with the payment mechanisms. Existing payment mechanisms relyon third-party services, such as third-party online payment services,that are separate from the metering network. The security of the paymentmechanisms thus depends on the security mechanism implemented by thethird party over which the utility company and the metering network haslittle control. Further, since the payment mechanisms are separate fromthe metering network, they are error-prone in that a payment might beapplied to a different meter than the meter the payment was intendedfor.

In addition, the current AMI typically does not provide payment back-upfeatures that consider situations where there are network infrastructureissues or a customer is unable to make a payment in time. In thesesituations, the customer's devices will be disconnected from theresource supply regardless of any special conditions the customer may befacing.

SUMMARY

Aspects and examples are disclosed for apparatuses and process forgenerating and applying payment-based tokens, time-based tokens, orglobal tokens to individual meters in a metering system. For instance, asystem includes a headend system and a plurality of meters installed ata plurality of geographical locations and in communication with theheadend system through at least a mesh network in a normal condition.The headend system is configured for receiving a request to issue aglobal token for a plurality of meters, the request specifying a timeduration for the global token. The headend system is further configuredfor determining the global token based on the time duration and causingthe global token to be broadcast via a broadcast network. The broadcastnetwork is distinct from the mesh network. The global token isapplicable to the plurality of meters. Each meter of the plurality ofmeters is configured for receiving and verifying the global token,determining the time duration associated with the global token, andapplying the global token by connecting premises associated with themeter to a resource distribution network for at least the time durationassociated with the global token.

In another example, a method includes receiving, by a meter, a globaltoken. The meter is configured to control a connection of premisesassociated with the meter to a resource distribution network. The globaltoken is applicable to a plurality of meters including the meter and isassociated with a time duration for which the premises are to beconnected to the resource distribution network. The method furtherincludes verifying, by the meter, the global token, determining, by themeter, the time duration associated with the global token, and applyingthe global token by connecting the premises associated with the meter toa resource distribution network for at least the time durationassociated with the global token.

In a further example, a method includes sending, by a headend system,provisioning data to a meter via at least a mesh network. Theprovisioning data includes a global token table, and the meter isinstalled at a geographical location and configured to control aconnection of premises associated with the meter to a resourcedistribution network. The method further includes receiving, by theheadend system, a request to issue a global token associated with a timeduration for a plurality of meters comprising the meter, determining, bythe headend system, the global token based on the time duration, andcausing the global token to be broadcast via a network distinct from themesh network. The global token is usable by the meter to connect thepremises to the resource distribution network based on the time durationassociated with the global token.

These illustrative aspects and features are mentioned not to limit ordefine the presently described subject matter, but to provide examplesto aid understanding of the concepts described in this application.Other aspects, advantages, and features of the presently describedsubject matter will become apparent after review of the entireapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure are better understood when the following Detailed Descriptionis read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an illustrative operating environmentfor generating and applying secure tokens at meters in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an illustrative operating environment forgenerating and applying payment-based tokens at meters in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a payment-based token generated by a headendsystem and to be applied at a meter in a resource distribution network,according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an example of processes for provisioning a meter so thatsecure tokens can be accepted and applied at the meter in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows an example of processes for generating and applying apayment-based token at a meter in a resource distribution network,according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an illustrative operating environment forgenerating and applying time-based tokens at meters in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a payment-based token generated by a headendsystem and to be applied at a meter in a resource distribution network,according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows an example of processes for generating and applying apayment-based token at a meter in a resource distribution network,according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a process for validating a secure token at ameter, according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an illustrative operating environment forgenerating and applying global tokens at meters in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a global token table, according to certainexamples of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a global token that can be applied at ameter in a resource distribution network, according to certain examplesof the disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows an example of processes for generating and applying aglobal token at a meter, according to certain examples of thedisclosure.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a process for receiving and processing asecure token at a meter, according to certain examples of thedisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram depicting an example of a meter suitable forimplementing aspects of the techniques and technologies presentedherein.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram depicting an example of a headend systemsuitable for implementing aspects of the techniques and technologiespresented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods are provided for generating and applying securetokens at meters in a resource distribution network. The meters areconfigured to measure the resource consumption at their respectivelocations and are further in communication with a headend system via amesh network. The headend system is configured to generate various typesof secure tokens. The secure tokens can include payment-based tokens,time-based tokens or global tokens. A payment-based token is generatedin response to a payment made for a specific meter and has a creditvalue corresponding to the payment. The payment-based token can beapplied at a meter to update the balance associated with the meter,which determines whether the connection to a resource supply should bemaintained or disconnected. A time-based token is generated in responseto a request made for a specific meter and has a time durationassociated therewith. The time-based token can be applied to a meter toextend the connection with a resource supply by the time durationspecified in the time-based token. A global token is generated for agroup of meters, rather than a specific meter, and also is associatedwith a time duration. The global token can also be applied at each meterin the group of meters to extend the connection with a resource supplyby the time duration specified in the global token.

In some examples, the headend system is configured to generate apayment-based token in response to receiving a request to generate apayment-based token according to a payment made for a particular meter.The payment-based token has a credit value corresponding to the payment.The credit value is a value taken from a range spanned by a negativecredit value limit and a positive credit value limit. The headend systemgenerates the payment-based token based on an identifier of theparticular meter, such as the serial number of the meter, so that thegenerated payment-based token is specific to the meter. Thepayment-based token also includes the credit value. The headend systemis further configured to transmit the payment-based token to theparticular meter over the mesh network. After receiving thepayment-based token, the meter validates the payment-based token, suchas by checking the integrity of the payment-based token, by verifyingthat the token is specific for the meter and by performing otheroperations. If the payment-based token is valid, the meter is configuredto determine the balance associated with the meter based on the creditvalue specified in the payment-based token and connect or disconnect theresource supply at the location of the meter based on the balanceassociated with meter.

In other examples, the headend system is further configured to generatea time-based token in response to receiving a request to generate atime-based token for a particular meter. The time-based token has a timeduration associated therewith, which might be requested by a user orselected by the headend system based on certain rules. The headendsystem generates the time-based token based on an identifier of theparticular meter, such as the serial number of the meter, so that thegenerated time-based token is specific to the meter and cannot beapplied at other meters. The headend system can transmit the time-basedtoken to the particular meter over the network 150 and the mesh network.After receiving the time-based token, the meter validates the time-basedtoken in a way similar to validating the payment-based token, such aschecking the integrity of the time-based token, and verifying that thetoken is specific for the meter. If the time-based token is valid, themeter is configured to determine the time duration associated with themeter and connect the resource supply at the location of the meter forat least the time duration specified in the time-based token.

In further examples, the headend system is also configured to generate aglobal token that is applicable to multiple meters associated with acertain geographic area and managed by the headend system. For example,the headend system may generate the global tokens in response to arequest by the utility company under a special or emergency situation,such as an extreme weather condition, where the mesh network and theheadend system become unavailable. In one example, the global token hasa time duration associated therewith. The global token can bedistributed to users through a broadcast channel other than the meshnetwork, such as a radio network, a TV network, or other emergencycommunication mechanism, e.g. text messaging. Users of the meters canmanually input the global token to their respective meters. Afterreceiving the global token, a meter can determine the time durationspecified by the global token and connect the resource supply at thelocation of the meter for the determined time duration.

Techniques described in the present disclosure increases the accuracyand security of the tokens applied in a resource distribution network.The payment-based tokens generated here are device-specific and onlyapplicable to the specified meter. This reduces the chance of applyingthe payment on the wrong meter and also renders tokens intercepted byattackers useless. Furthermore, by configuring the headend system andthe meters to generate and process multiple types of secure tokens, theflexibility of the resource distribution network has been significantlyimproved to allow it to handle different situations, including emergencysituations. As a result, the meters in the distribution network do notneed to switch modes for different situations, thereby reducing resourceconsumption, such as power, memory or computing resource, at the meters.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative operating environment 100 for generatingand applying secure tokens at meters in a resource distribution network.The environment 100 includes a mesh network 140 associated with theresource distribution network for delivering measurement data obtainedby meters in the resource distribution network. The mesh network 140includes multiple meters 112A-112H (which may be referred to hereinindividually as a meter 112 or collectively as the meters 112) deployedat various geographical locations. The meters 112 can be any type ofmeters in a utility network, such as electricity meters, gas meters,water meters, steam meters, etc. The meters 112 can be implemented tomeasure various operating characteristics of the resource distributionnetwork, such as characteristics of resource consumption. For example,in a power distribution network, meters 112 can monitor and measurecharacteristics related to power usage in the network. Examplecharacteristics related to power usage in the resource distributionnetwork include average or total power consumption, power surges, poweroutages, and load changes.

The meters 112 transmit the collected data through the mesh network 140to root nodes 114A and 114B (which may be referred to hereinindividually as a root node 114 or collectively as the root nodes 114).The root nodes 114 of the network 140 may be configured forcommunicating with the meters 112 to perform operations such as managingthe meters 112, collecting data from the meters 112 and forwarding datato a headend system 104. A root node 114 can also be configured tofunction as a node to measure and process data itself. The root nodes114 may be personal area network (PAN) coordinators, gateways, or anyother devices capable of communicating with the headend system 104.

The root nodes 114 ultimately transmit the generated and collected meterdata to the headend system 104 via another network 150 such as theInternet, an intranet, or any other data communication network. Theheadend system 104 can function as a central processing system thatreceives streams of data or messages from the root node 114. The headendsystem 104 can process or analyze the collected data. Based on theprocessed data, the headend system 104 further communicates with autility system 102 associated with a utility company for variouspurposes, such as billing, performance analysis or troubleshooting.While FIG. 1 shows that the headend system 104 and the utility system102 are separate systems, in some examples, they can be implemented inone system.

In some examples, a meter 112 can also be configured to control theconnection of premises 132 at its geographical location or otherwiseassociated with the meter 112 to a resource supply 130 provided by theresource distribution network. For example, in a power distributionnetwork, the meter 112 can be configured to control the status of aswitch 134 in order to connect or disconnect the power supply of theresource network from the premises 132. In some implementations, a meter112 controls the connection of the premises 132 with the resource supply130 (i.e. the resource distribution network) based on the mode of themeter 112.

If the meter 112 is in a credit mode, the meter 112 continuouslymaintains the connection of the premises 132 to the resource supply 130and measures the resource consumption at the premises 132. The meter 112periodically sends the measured resource consumption along with otherdata to the headend system 104 which further forwards the data to theutility system 102 to generate bills for the user 120. If the meter 112is in a pre-pay mode, the meter 112 controls the connection of thepremises 132 to the resource supply 130 based on a credit balanceassociated with the meter 112 or a connection time duration specifiedfor the meter 112. The meter 112 maintains the connection between thepremises 132 and the resource supply 130 as long as the credit balanceassociated with the meter 112 is positive or exceeds a threshold balancevalue, or the connection time duration specified for the meter 112 isnon-zero or exceeds a threshold duration value. If the balanceassociated with the meter 112 becomes negative or falls below thethreshold balance value, or the connection time duration becomes zero,the meter 112 will control the switch 134 to disconnect the premises 132from the resource supply 130. The balance or the connection timeduration associated with a meter 112 can be adjusted by applying securetokens to the meter 112. Additional details about the operations of themeter 112 in the pre-pay mode will be provided below with regard toFIGS. 2-12.

In further examples, the meter 112 might also be coupled with a handhelddevice 106 that is configured to display various information associatedwith the meter 112 and the characteristics related to the resource. Inthe example of a power distribution network, the handheld device 106 maybe configured to show the power consumption at the premises 132, thestatus of the power connection (e.g. connected or disconnected), themode of the meter (e.g. a pre-pay mode or a post-pay/credit mode), thebalance associated with the meter if the meter is in a pre-pay mode,etc. The handheld device 106 is further configured to accept user inputfrom a user 120 and transmit the user input to the meter 112. As will bediscussed later with regard to FIGS. 2-12, the user input may include asecure token.

The handheld device 106 may be connected to the meter 112 in any wiredor wireless manner. For example, the handheld device 106 can beconnected to the meter 112 through a home area network (HAN).Non-limiting examples of suitable networking protocols for implementinga HAN include ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the like. Non-limitingexamples of a HAN include a HomePlug network implemented via power linecommunications, a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (“MoCA”) networkproviding network connectivity between appliances and networking devicesimplemented via coaxial cable, a HomePNA Alliance network, etc.

It should be appreciated that while FIG. 1 depicts a specific networktopology (e.g., a DODAG tree), other network topologies are alsopossible (e.g., a ring topology, a mesh topology, a star topology,etc.). In addition, although the following description will focus on theaspects of one meter 112, the technologies described herein can beapplied by any meter in the mesh network, including the meters 112 andthe root node 114 as long as the meter can control the access to a powersource.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an illustrative operating environment 200for generating and applying payment-based tokens at meters in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.The environment 200 includes the utility system 102, the headend system104, and a meter 112 as discussed above with regard with FIG. 1. Theenvironment 200 further includes a payment processing system 206, apre-pay vending machine 208 or a service system 210.

The pre-pay vending machine 208 is an automated machine that allows auser 120 to make payment 212 toward a certain meter 112. Multiplepre-pay vending machines 208 can be deployed in the geographical areaswhere the resource distribution network is deployed so that users 120can make payments for the meters at their respective locations. Theservice system 210 includes computing systems hosted by, for example,the utility company or a third-party entity that allows users 120 tomake payments 212. For instance, the service system 210 may beconfigured to provide a website or a telephone service through which theuser 120 can make payment 212.

The payment processing system 206 is configured to receive the payment212, verify the payment 212, and inform the headend system 104 or theutility system 102 regarding the payment 212. The payment processingsystem 206 may be associated with a financial institution, such as abank or a credit union to process or verify the payment 212.Alternatively, or additionally, the payment processing system 206 may beassociated with the headend system 104 or the utility system 102 andfurther in communication with a financial institution to process thepayment 212. The payment 212 may be made using cash, check, credit card,debit card, and others.

In order for the meters 112 in the resource distribution network toaccept and process secure tokens, including payment-based tokens,time-based tokens, and global tokens, the headend system 104 isconfigured to first provision the meters 112 to switch their modes tothe prepay mode. In some examples, the provisioning is performed by theheadend system 104 transmitting provisioning data 202 to the meters 112that are to be switched to the prepay mode. The provisioning data 202sent to a meter 112 can include a secret key used by the meter 112 tovalidate secure tokens received at the meter 112. The provisioning data202 can further include other parameters that are used by the meter 112to determine if a secure token is valid or not. For instance, theprovisioning data 202 may include token acceptance parameters fordetermining an acceptable window for the secure tokens. An acceptablewindow defines a range of serial numbers for acceptable secure tokens.If the serial number of a received secure token falls within this range,the secure token can be accepted at the meter 112; otherwise, the meter112 will reject the secure token. Additional details about validating asecure token are provided below with regard to FIG. 9. As will bediscussed later with regard to FIGS. 10-12, the provisioning data 202can also include data used by the meter 112 for processing globaltokens, such as a global token table enumerating acceptable globaltokens.

After receiving the provisioning data 202, the meter 112 switches itsmode to prepay mode and stores the provisioning data 202 locally. Insome implementations, the meter 112 is also configured to send aprovisioning response to the headend system 104 to inform the headendsystem 104 that the meter 112 has successfully switched to the prepaymode and is functioning properly under that mode. In another example,the meter 112 is set to the pre-pay mode upon installation. The meter112 then receives the provisioning data 202 from the headend system 104during an initial communication with the headend system 104.

It should be noted that switching the mode of a meter 112 to the prepaymode can be requested by the utility company at the request of the userof the meter 112 or based on its own decision. The utility company caninclude the request to switch the mode of certain meters 112 in thetoken instructions 214 and send the request to the headend system 104through the utility system 102. Based on the request, the headend system104 determines the list of meters 112 to be switched and provisions eachof these meters as discussed above. In some examples, for securityreasons, the secret key included in the provisioning data 202 isdifferent from the secret key for other meters 112 and is also differentfrom the keys used for the communication between the meter 112 and theheadend system 104. Other parameters contained in the provisioning data202, such as the token acceptance parameters, may be the same ordifferent for different meters 112.

Once the meter 112 is provisioned and switched to the prepay mode, themeter 112 can accept and process secure tokens. In the example shown inFIG. 2, the meter 112 can accept and process payment-based tokens. Othertypes of secure tokens, such as the time-based tokens and the globaltokens, are discussed below with regard to FIGS. 6-12. In the exampleshown in FIG. 2, a user 120 can make a payment 212 for a meter 112 usingthe pre-pay vending machine 208 or the service system 210 as discussedabove with regard to FIG. 1 or through other mechanisms. Upon receivingthe payment 212, the payment processing system 206 verifies that thepayment 212 is a valid payment. For example, the payment processingsystem 206 may verify that the bank account or a credit card accountused in the payment is a real account and the user 120 is an authorizeduser to charge the payment to the account. The payment processing system206 will notify the user 120 if the verification process fails.

If the payment processing system 206 determines that the payment 212 isvalid, the payment processing system 206 generates and sends a requestfor payment-based token 216 to the headend system 104. The request forpayment-based token 216 can include information such as an identifier ofthe meter for which the payment-based token is to be generated, theamount of the payment 212 (also referred to herein as the “credit value”of the payment 212), whether the payment is positive or negative, andother information. Positive payment occurs when the payment processingsystem 206 determines that positive credit value is to be added to theaccount associated with the meter 112, e.g. when the user 120 adds Xdollars to his account that is associated with the meter 112. Negativepayment occurs when the payment processing system 206 determines that acertain credit value should be deducted from the account associated withthe meter 112. The negative payment can be utilized, for example, tocorrect a positive payment previously made by mistake, to cancel acredit value adjustment made temporarily, to issue a refund to the user,and so on.

Based on the request for payment-based token 216, the headend system 104generates a payment-based token 204. The payment-based token 204 isgenerated based on information such as the type of the token, the creditvalue associated with the token, the serial number of the token, themeter for which the token is generated, and so on. These types ofinformation may be explicitly included in one or more fields of thepayment-based token 204 or may be transformed before being included inthe payment-based token 204. FIG. 3 shows an example of a payment-basedtoken 204 generated by the headend system 104 according to certainexamples of the disclosure.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a payment-based token 204 contains 66bits which is equivalent to 20 decimal digits. The first two bits of thepayment-based token 204 are used to represent the token type 302. Insome examples, if the value of the token type 302 is 0, then the tokenis a payment-based token. Other values of the token type 302 can be usedto indicate other types of secure tokens. The next two bits of thepayment-based token 204 shown in FIG. 3 indicate the sub-type 304 of thetoken, and the following 20 bits represent a credit value 306 whichranges from 0-10,000 U.S. dollars or another currency.

In some examples, if the sub-type 304 has a value 0, then the token 204represents a positive adjustment of credit value; and if the sub-type304 has a value 1, then the token 204 represents a negative adjustmentof credit value. In other words, if the sub-type 304 shows a positiveadjustment, then the amount represented by the credit value 306 will beadded to the account associated with the meter 112. If the sub-type 304shows a negative adjustment, then the amount represented by the creditvalue 306 will be deducted from the account associated with the meter112.

The payment-based token 204 shown in FIG. 3 further includes a field oftransaction ID 308 that contains 10 bits. In some examples, thetransaction ID 308 represents the least significant 10 bits of a fulltoken reference number (TRN). The TRN is a binary number uniquelyrepresenting the sequential token number for the meter 112. After aninitial starting value, each token generated for the meter 112 will havea monotonically increasing sequential TRN. In some examples, the TRN isa 32-bit number between 0 and 4294967295 and the transaction ID 308represents the least significant 10 bits of this 32-bit number.

The payment-based token 204 shown in FIG. 3 also includes an integrityfield 310 which is uniquely calculated by using a cryptography tool,such as the hash-based message authentication code (HMAC). The integrityfield 310 can be generated by applying the cryptography tool to encryptdata such as fields 302-308 of the payment-based token 204, the serialnumber of the meter 112, the network ID of the meter 112, andinformation that is unique to the token within the resource distributionnetwork, such as the TRN of the token. In some examples, the headendsystem 104 generates the HMAC using a hash function such as the securehash algorithm SHA-256 based on the secret key that is included in theprovisioning data 202. In this way, the meter 112 can, after receivingthe payment-based token 204, use the same secret key to generate theHMAC and compare the generated HMAC with that included in the integrityfield 310 of the received payment-based token 204 to validate the token204. It should be understood that cryptography tools other than HMAC andSHA-256 can also be used to generate the integrity field 310.

Referring back to FIG. 2, after the headend system 104 generates thepayment-based token 204, the headend system 104 can send thepayment-based token 204 back to the payment processing system 206 oranother system which may forward it to the pre-pay vending machine 208or the service system 210 so that the user 120 can obtain a copy of thepayment-based token 204. Alternatively, the payment-based token 204 maydirectly send the payment-based token 204 to the pre-pay vending machine208 or the service system 210 to provide a copy of the payment-basedtoken 204 to the user 120. In some examples, the payment-based token 204may be included in an acknowledgment of the payment 212 sent to the user120, such as in a receipt of the payment 212.

In some implementations, when submitting the payment 212 at the pre-payvending machine 208 or at the service system 210, the user 120 is alsoasked whether the user wants to have the generated payment-based token204 automatically applied to the meter 112. The decision made by theuser 120 in this regard can be included in the request for payment-basedtoken 216 so that the headend system 104 can act accordingly. If theuser 120 agrees to the automatic application of the payment-based token204 to the meter 112, the headend system 104 sends the payment-basedtoken 204 to the meter 112 via the mesh network 140. If the user 120does not agree to the automatic application of the payment-based token204, the headend system 104 will not send the payment-based token 204 tothe meter 112. In some examples, the user 120 may choose to allow theheadend system 104 to automatically apply the payment-based token 204 tothe meter 112, but with a certain amount of delay. In those examples,the headend system 104 waits for the specified amount of time duration,and then sends the payment-based token 204 to the meter 112 over themesh network 140.

Instead of relying on the headend system 104 to apply the payment-basedtoken 204, the user 120 may input the payment-based token 204 using thehandheld device 106 associated with the meter 112. In other words, theuser 120 can decline the automatic application of the payment-basedtoken 204 by the headend system 104 and input the payment-based token204 he or she received after making the payment 212 through the handhelddevice 106. In these examples, the handheld device 106 is configured topresent a user interface that allows the user 120 to enter thepayment-based token 204 and to transmit the payment-based token 204 tothe meter 112.

Upon receiving the payment-based token 204, either from the handhelddevice 106 or from the headend system 104, the meter 112 starts tovalidate the payment-based token 204. The meter 112 can parse thepayment-based token 204 to determine each of the fields contained in thepayment-based token 204. The meter 112 further uses the secret keycontained in the provisioning data 202 to generate an authenticationcode, such as the HMAC, based on the same information that is used bythe headend system 104 to generate the integrity field 310. Theinformation can include, for example, the serial number of the meter,the network ID of the meter, the TRN and the other fields of thepayment-based token 204, i.e. the token type 302, the sub-type 304, thecredit value 306 and the transaction ID 308. If the generatedauthentication code matches the integrity field 310 of the payment-basedtoken 204, the meter 112 can determine that the payment-based token 204is generated by the headend system 104 and the content of thepayment-based token 204 has not been altered.

By including the identifier of the meter 112, such as the serial numberand the network ID of the meter 112, in the input for generating theHMAC for the integrity field 310, the generated payment-based token 204is tied to the intended meter 112. As a result, if the payment-basedtoken 204 is received by a different meter, that meter will be able todetermine that the payment-based token 204 is not intended for it bydetermining that its calculated HMAC does not match the integrity field310 and subsequently discard the payment-based token 204. In this way,it can be ensured that the payment-based token 204 is applied at thecorrect meter 112.

In further examples, the meter 112 is also configured to determine ifthe transaction ID of the received payment-based token 204 is within anacceptable window. As briefly discussed above, the acceptable window canbe determined based on the token acceptance parameters included in theprovisioning data 202. Further details of determining the acceptablewindow and determining whether the payment-based token 204 is within theacceptable window are provided below with regard to FIG. 9.

In some examples, the meter 112 may also be configured to determine ifthe received payment-based token 204 is a duplicate token that has beenreceived and processed before. In these examples, the meter 112 isconfigured to store the tokens or the tokens identifier (ID) 220, suchas the TRNs, that the meter 112 received and processed in the past. Ifthe current payment-based token 204 matches any of the past token IDs220, the meter 112 can determine that the received payment-based token204 is a duplicate and is not a valid token.

If the meter 112 determines that the received payment-based token 204 isa valid token, the meter 112 applies the credit value 306 to the balanceof an account associated with the meter 112 according to the sub-type304 specified in the payment-based token 204. For example, if thesub-type 304 specifies that the token is for a negative adjustment, themeter 112 reduces the balance of the account by the credit value 306; ifthe sub-type 304 specifies that the token is for a positive adjustment,the meter 112 increases the balance of the account by the credit value306. Based on the balance of the account after the adjustment, the meter112 can connect or disconnect the premises 132 from the resource supply130. In other words, if after the adjustment, the balance associatedwith the meter 112 is changed from negative to positive (or from below athreshold balance to above the threshold balance), the meter 112 willconnect the resource supply 130 to the premises 132, e.g. by closing theswitch 134. If the balance associated with the meter 112 is changed frompositive to negative (or from above the threshold balance to below thethreshold balance), the meter 112 will disconnect the resource supply130 from the premises 132, e.g. by opening the switch 134. If after theadjustment, the balance associated with the meter 112 remains positiveor above the threshold balance (or negative or below the thresholdbalance), the meter 112 will maintain the connection (or thedisconnection) between the premises 132 and the resource supply 130(i.e. the resource distribution network).

Whenever the premises 132 are connected to the resource supply 130, themeter 112 measures the resource consumption at the premises 132 andupdates the balance associated with the meter 112 based on resourceconsumption. For example, the meter 112 can convert the resourceconsumption to a monetary value based on the rate at the time when theresource is consumed. The meter 112 then reduces the balance associatedwith the meter by the converted monetary amount. The meter 112disconnects the premises 132 from the resource supply 130 once thebalance becomes negative or below the threshold balance and willreconnect if a new token is received resulting in a positive balance orabove the threshold balance.

Depending on where the meter 112 receives the payment-based token 204,the meter 112 will generate and transmit a token application response218 or an event message 222 to the headend system 104. If thepayment-based token 204 is received from the headend system 104, themeter 112 generates a token application response 218 to report thestatus of the payment-based token 204 received at the meter 112. In someimplementations, the token application response 218 includes the statusof the payment-based token 204. The status of the payment-based token204 might include, for example, “token has been applied successfully atthe meter,” “token is rejected because it is outside the acceptablewindow,” “token is rejected because it is a duplicate,” “token isrejected because it failed integrity check,” and so on.

The token application response 218 can further include otherinformation, such as the credit value applied to the meter 112, thebalance associated with the meter 112 after the payment-based token 204is applied, the status of the meter switch 134 (e.g. open/disconnectedor closed/connected). The token application response 218 may alsoinclude the payment-based token 204 or the serial number of thepayment-based token 204, such as the TRN or the transaction ID. Thetoken application response 218 may be sent along with other data sentfrom the meter 112 to the headend system 104, such as the collectedmeter data, or sent separately.

If the payment-based token 204 is received through the handheld device106, the meter 112 generates and transmits an event message 222containing the payment-based token 204 to the headend system 104 toreport the payment-based token 204. The event message 222 may alsoinclude other data, such as the status of the payment-based token 204,the status of the meter switch 134 or any other data that is included inthe token application response 218. Similar to the token applicationresponse 218, the event message 222 can be sent to the headend system104 along with other data, such as the collected meter data, or sentseparately.

Upon receiving the event message 222, the headend system 104 analyzesthe payment-based token 204 to determine whether the payment-based token204 included in the event message 222 is generated by the headend system104, such as by searching in the past tokens generated by the headendsystem 104. The headend system 104 is then configured to send theanalysis results to the meter 112. If the analysis results show that thepayment-based token 204 is not generated by the headend system 104, themeter 112 can readjust the balance associated with the meter 112 toremove the credit value of the payment-based token 204. The meter 112may also cause the handheld device 106 to display a warning message toindicate the analysis results and the actions carried out by the meter112 based on the analysis results.

FIG. 4 shows an example of processes for switching a meter 112 to aprepay mode and for provisioning the meter 112 so that secure tokens canbe applied at the meter 112 in a resource distribution network,according to certain examples of the disclosure. In particular, FIG. 4includes process 400A that illustrates aspects of the headend system104, and process 400B that illustrates aspects of the meter 112. Theprocesses 400A and 400B will be described together below.

At block 402, the process 400A involves the headend system 104generating the provisioning data 202. As discussed above with regard toFIG. 2, the provisioning data 202 can include a secret key used by themeter 112 to validate secure tokens received at the meter 112. Theprovisioning data 202 can further include other parameters that are usedby the meter 112 to determine the validity of a received secure token.For instance, the provisioning data 202 may include token acceptanceparameters for determining an acceptable window for the secure tokens.The provisioning data 202 may further include a global token tablelisting the acceptable global tokens. In some examples, the provisioningdata 202 may also include an explicit instruction to ask the meter 112to switch to a prepay mode. At block 404, the headend system 104transmits the provisioning data 202 to the meter 112 via the meshnetwork 140.

At block 412, the process 400B involves the meter 112 receiving theprovisioning data 202. At block 414, the meter 112 switches to theprepay mode, for example, by setting its mode to the prepay mode andloading firmware corresponding to the prepay mode for execution. Atblock 416, the meter 112 stores the provisioning data 202 in memory orother storage device accessible by the meter 112. At block 418, themeter 112 sends a provisioning response to the headend system 104 toacknowledge the receipt of the provisioning data 202 and the mode switchof the meter 112. At block 406, the headend system 104 receives theprovisioning response, and the provisioning process ends.

It should be understood that although the above example describes thatthe provisioning is performed when the meter 112 is switched from acredit mode to a prepay mode, the provisioning may be performed evenafter the meter 112 has switched to the prepay mode. For instance, theprovisioning process may be performed whenever the headend system 104decides to update the secret key for validating the secure tokens, thetoken acceptance parameters, or the global token table. In those cases,block 414 may be skipped.

FIG. 5 shows an example of processes for generating and applying apayment-based token 204 at a meter 112 in a resource distributionnetwork, according to certain examples of the disclosure. In particular,FIG. 5 includes processes 500A, 500B and 500C. The process 500Aillustrates aspects of the headend system 104. The process 500Billustrates aspects of the meter 112. The process 500C illustrates theaspects of the handheld device 106. The processes 500A, 500B, and 500Cwill be described together below.

The process 500A begins at block 502 where the headend system 104receives a request for payment-based token 216 for a meter 112. Asdiscussed above with regard to FIG. 2, the request for payment-basedtoken 216 might be generated by the payment processing system 206 inresponse to a payment 212 made by a user 120 for the meter 112. Therequest for payment-based token 216 might be also generated by thepayment processing system 206 to adjust the balance associated with themeter 112 to, for example, correct an error, issue a refund, cancel atemporary adjustment, and so on. As such, the requested payment-basedtoken 204 can be a positive adjustment or a negative adjustment.

At block 504, the process 500A involves generating a payment-based token204 for the meter 112. In order to make the payment-based token 204specific to the meter 112, the payment-based token 204 is generatedbased on an identifier of the meter 112, such as the serial number ofthe meter 112, the network ID of the meter 112, or a combination ofthese. In addition, the generated payment-based token 204 also includesor is based on a serial number unique to the payment-based token 204 inthe mesh network 140. The payment-based token 204 also indicates thecredit value associated with the token and the type of adjustment, suchas negative adjustment or positive adjustment. In one example, thepayment-based token 204 is generated according to the format shown inFIG. 3, which includes a token type, a sub-type, a credit value, atransaction ID of the token and an integrity field. In someimplementations, the integrity field is generated using a secret key togenerate an HMAC based on one or more fields 302-308 of thepayment-based token 204, the identifier of the meter 112, such as theserial number and the network ID, and the TRN of the payment-based token204.

At block 506, the process 500A involves responding to the request forpayment-based token 216 with the generated payment-based token 204. Forexample, the headend system 104 sends the payment-based token 204 to theentity that requested the payment-based token 204, such as the paymentprocessing system 206, so that the payment-based token 204 can beforwarded to the user 120. In another example, the headend system 104sends the payment-based token 204 directly to the system where the user120 made the payment, such as the pre-pay vending machine 208 or theservice system 210.

If the user 120 authorizes the headend system 104 to automatically applythe generated payment-based token 204 to the meter 112, block 506further involves applying the payment-based token 204 to the meter 112by sending the payment-based token 204 to the meter 112. The applicationof the payment-based token 204 to the meter 112 may be performedimmediately or with a certain delay, depending on the selection made bythe user 120 when providing the authorization to the headend system 104to apply the payment-based token 204.

If the user 120 does not authorize the headend system 104 to apply thepayment-based token 204 to the meter 112, the user 120 can manuallyinput the payment-based token 204 using the handheld device 106. Atblock 530, the process 500C involves receiving the payment-based token204 at the handheld device 106 through user input. At block 532, theprocess 500C involves sending the received payment-based token 204 tothe meter 112 through, for example, a HAN.

At block 512, the process 500B involves the meter 112 receiving thepayment-based token 204, either from the headend system 104 or from thehandheld device 106. At block 514, the process 500B involves validatingthe payment-based token 204 to determine if the received payment-basedtoken 204 is a valid token. The validation process might include forexample, determining the integrity of the payment-based token 204,determining that the payment-based token 204 is generated for the meter112, determining that the token is within the acceptable window,determining the token is not a duplicate token, and so on. Additionaldetails regarding validating the payment-based token 204 are providedbelow with regard to FIG. 9.

At block 516, the process 500B involves determining whether thepayment-based token 204 is a valid token. If not, the process 500Binvolves rejecting the payment-based token 204 at block 520. If thepayment-based token 204 is a valid token, the process 500B involves, atblock 518, updating the balance associated with the meter 112 based onthe payment-based token 204 and connecting or disconnecting (ormaintaining a connected or disconnected state with) the resource supplybased on the balance. If the payment-based token 204 indicates anegative adjustment, the meter 112 reduces the balance of the meter 112by the credit value specified in the payment-based token 204. If thepayment-based token 204 indicates a positive adjustment, the meter 112increases the balance of the meter 112 by the credit value specified inthe payment-based token 204. If the updated balance is positive (orabove a threshold balance), the meter 112 connects or maintains aconnection between the premises 132 to the resource supply 130. If theupdated balance is negative (or below the threshold balance), the meter112 disconnects or maintains a disconnected state between the premises132 and the resource supply 130.

At block 522, the process 500B involves sending a token applicationresponse 218 as discussed above with regard to FIG. 2, if thepayment-based token 204 is received from the headend system 104. In someimplementations, the token application response 218 includes informationsuch as the status of the payment-based token 204 (such as accepted orrejected), the credit value applied to the meter 112, the balanceassociated with the meter 112 after the payment-based token 204 isapplied, the status of the meter switch 134 (e.g. open/disconnected orclosed/connected), or any combination thereof. The token applicationresponse 218 may also include the payment-based token 204 or the serialnumber of the payment-based token 204, such as the TRN or thetransaction ID.

If the payment-based token 204 is received from the handheld device 106,the meter 112 generates and sends an event message 222 to the headendsystem 104 to inform the headend system 104 about the receivedpayment-based token 204 and request the headend system 104 to verify thepayment-based token 204. The event message 222 may contain similarcontent as the token application response 218, such as the status of thepayment-based token 204 (such as accepted or rejected), the credit valueapplied to the meter 112, the balance associated with the meter 112after the payment-based token 204 is applied, the status of the meterswitch 134 (e.g. open/disconnected or closed/connected). The eventmessage 222 also includes the entire payment-based token 204 and anindication of a request for the headend system 104 to verify theauthenticity of the payment-based token 204. As discussed above withregard to FIG. 2, the token application response 218 or the eventmessage 222 may be sent along with the meter data collected at the meter112 or sent separately to the headend system 104.

The headend system 104 receives the token application response 218 orthe event message 222 at block 508 and processes the received messageaccordingly. For example, if the headend system 104 receives an eventmessage 222, the headend system 104 verifies the payment-based token 204contained in the event message 222 to determine if the payment-basedtoken 204 was indeed generated by the headend system 104. The headendsystem 104 notifies the meter 112 about the verification results, forexample, by sending a notification to the meter 112. The meter 112 cantake actions according to the verification results, such as cancelingthe payment-based token 204 applied at the meter 112 if thepayment-based token 204 is not generated by the headend system 104.

If the payment-based token 204 is received from the handheld device 106,the process 500B further involves the meter 112 sending a confirmationmessage to the handheld device 106 at block 524. The confirmationmessage can include, for example, the status of the payment-based token204 (e.g. accepted or rejected), the credit value applied to the meter112, the balance associated with the meter 112 after the payment-basedtoken 204 is applied, the status of the meter switch 134 (e.g.open/disconnected or closed/connected). The handheld device 106 receivesthe confirmation message at block 534 and presents it to the user 120 ina user interface.

In the prepay mode, a meter 112 is generally configured to disconnectthe premises 132 from the resource supply 130 if the balance associatedwith the meter 112 is below zero or below a threshold balance value. Theuser 120 of the premises 132 needs to make timely payment and have thepayment-based token applied at the meter 112 in order not to bedisconnected from the resource supply 130. In some scenarios, it isimpossible or inconvenient for the user 120 to make a payment due to thetime and the location of the user 120. In those scenarios, the user 120can request a time-based token to extend the connection with theresource supply 130 for a certain time duration and make a payment at alater time.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an illustrative operating environment 600for generating and applying time-based tokens at meters in a resourcedistribution network, according to certain examples of the disclosure.The environment 600 includes the utility system 102, the headend system104, meters 112, and the service system 210 as discussed above withregard with FIGS. 1 and 2. As discussed before, the service system 210includes computing systems hosted by, for example, the utility companyor a third-party entity to allow users 120 to make payments 212.Additionally, or alternatively, the service system 210 can also beconfigured to allow users 120 to request time-based tokens. Forinstance, the service system 210 may provide a website or a telephoneservice through which the user 120 can request time-based tokens.

Upon receiving the request from the user 120, the service system 210 cangenerate and transmit a request for time-based token 616 to the headendsystem 104. The request for time-based token 616 can include data suchas the identifier of the meter 112 for which the time-based token is tobe generated, the time duration associated with the time-based token,the starting date of the duration, etc. In other examples, the paymentprocessing system 206 might communicate with the utility system 102. Theutility system 102 can then communicate with the headend system 104 torequest the time-based token to be generated, such as by sending therequest for time-based token 616 to the headend system 104.

Based on the request for time-based token 616, the headend system 104generates a time-based token 604. The time-based token 604 is generatedbased on information such as the type of the token, the time durationassociated with the token, the date on which the time duration starts,the serial number of the device, the meter for which the token isgenerated, and so on. These types of information may be explicitlyincluded in one or more fields of the time-based token 604 or may betransformed before being included in the time-based token 604. FIG. 7shows an example of a time-based token 604 generated by the headendsystem 104 according to certain examples of the disclosure.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, a time-based token 604 contains 66 bitswhich is equivalent to 20 decimal digits. As such the size of thetime-based token 604 is the same as the size of the payment-based token204 shown in FIG. 3. Similar to the payment-based token 204, the firsttwo bits of the time-based token 604 is also used to represent the tokentype 702. In some examples, if the value of the token type 702 is 1,then the token is a time-based token. Other values of the token type 702can be used to indicate other types of secure tokens. The next 15 bitsof the time-based token 604 shown in FIG. 7 indicate the starting dateof the time duration associated with the time-based token 604. Forexample, 5 and 4 bits of the 15 bits can be used to represent the day704 and month 706 of the starting date, respectively. Six bits of the 15bits can be used to represent the lower two digits of the year 708 ofthe starting date.

The time-based token 604 shown in FIG. 7 further includes a tokenduration 710 which is represented by 7 bits to define the time durationassociated with the token 604 which can be any value between 1 and 127days. The time duration associated with the time-based token 604 may bespecified in the request for time-based token 616. In other examples,the time duration might be determined or adjusted by the headend systembased on certain rules. For instance, the rule might specify that thetime duration cannot be more than 7 days for a user who first requeststhe time-based token 604, and can be no more than 5 days for a user whorequests the time-based token 604 for the second time. The maximum timeduration that a user can request for the time-based token 604 decreasesas the number of times the user requests for the time-based token 604increases. Other types of rules might also be utilized.

Similar to the payment-based token 204, the time-based token 604 shownin FIG. 7 further includes a 10-bit field of transaction ID 712. In someexamples, the transaction ID 712 represents the least significant 10bits of the full TRN which is a binary number uniquely representing thesequential token number for the meter 112. After an initial startingvalue, each token generated for the meter 112, whether it is apayment-based token or a time-based token, will have a monotonicallyincreasing sequential TRN. In some examples, the TRN is a 32-bit numberbetween 0 and 4294967295 and the transaction ID 712 represents the leastsignificant 10 bits of this 32-bit number.

The time-based token 604 shown in FIG. 7 also includes an integrityfield 714 which is uniquely calculated using a cryptography tool, suchas the hash-based message authentication code (HMAC). The integrityfield 714 of the time-based token 604 can be generated by applying thecryptography tool to encrypt data such as one or more of fields 702-710of the time-based token 604, the serial number of the meter 112, thenetwork ID of the meter 112, and information that is unique to the tokenwithin the resource distribution network, such as the TRN of the token.In some examples, the headend system 104 generates the HMAC using a hashfunction such as the secure hash algorithm SHA-256 based on the secretkey that is included in the provisioning data 202. In this way, themeter 112 can, after receiving the time-based token 604, use the samesecret key to generate the HMAC and compare the generated HMAC with thatincluded in the integrity field 714 of the received time-based token 604to validate the token. The validation includes, for example, determiningthe integrity and the authenticity of the payment-based token 204. Itshould be understood that cryptography tools other than HMAC or otherthan SHA-256 can also be used to generate the integrity field 714.

Returning to FIG. 6, after the headend system 104 generates thetime-based token 604, the headend system 104 sends the time-based token604 back to the system that requested for the time-based token 604, suchas the service system 210. The user 120 can thus obtain a copy of thegenerated time-based token 604. By obtaining a copy of the time-basedtoken 604, the user 120 can apply the time-based token 604 at the meter112 using the handheld device 106 without relying on the headend system104. As discussed above with regard to FIG. 2, the handheld device 106can be configured to present a user interface that allows the user 120to enter the time-based token 604 and to transmit the time-based token604 to the meter 112

Alternatively, the user 120 can request to have the time-based token 604to be applied automatically by the headend system 104 to the meter 112.Such a request can be included in the request for time-based token 616so that the headend system 104 can act accordingly. If the user 120requests the automatic application of the time-based token 604, theheadend system 104 sends the time-based token 604 to the meter 112 viathe mesh network 140. If the user 120 does not request the automaticapplication of the time-based token 604, the headend system 104 will notsend the time-based token 604 to the meter 112. In some examples, theuser 120 may choose to allow the headend system 104 to automaticallyapply the time-based token 604 to the meter 112 with a certain amount ofdelay. In those examples, the headend system 104 waits for the specifiedamount of delay duration, and then sends the time-based token 604 to themeter 112 over the mesh network 140.

After receiving the time-based token 604, either from the handhelddevice 106 or from the headend system 104, the meter 112 can validatethe time-based token 604. The meter 112 can parse the time-based token604 to determine each field contained in the time-based token 604. Themeter 112 further uses the secret key contained in the provisioning data202 to generate an authentication code, such as the HMAC, based on thesame information that is used by the headend system 104 to generate theintegrity field 714. The information can include, for example, theserial number of the meter, the network ID of the meter, the TRN and theother fields of the time-based token 604, such as the token type 702,the starting date (fields 704-708), the token duration 710, and thetransaction ID 712. If the generated authentication code matches theintegrity field 714 of the time-based token 604, the meter 112 candetermine that the time-based token 604 is generated by the headendsystem 104 and the content of the time-based token 604 has not beenaltered.

Similar to the payment-based token 204, including the identifier of themeter 112, such as the serial number and the network ID of the meter112, in the generation of the integrity field 714 for time-based token604, the time-based token 604 is made specific to the intended meter112. A meter can determine whether a received time-based token 604 is aproper token by determining whether the calculated authentication codematches the integrity field 714 or not, and only apply the time-basedtoken 604 that is intended for it. In some examples, validating thereceived time-based token 604 also includes determining whether thetime-based token 604 is within an acceptable window and whether it is aduplicate token that has been received and processed before. Furtherdetails of determining the acceptable window and determining whether thetime-based token 604 is within the acceptable window are provided belowwith regard to FIG. 9.

If the meter 112 determines that the received time-based token 604 isnot a valid token, the meter 112 rejects or denies the time-based token604. Otherwise, the meter 112 connects the premises 132 at thegeographical location of the meter 112 to the resource supply 130starting from the start date and for the time duration specified in thetime-based token 604. After the specified time duration has passed, themeter 112 remain connected or disconnect the resource supply 130 basedon the balance associated with the meter 112. In other words, if thebalance is negative or below a threshold balance value, the meter 112disconnects the premises 132 from the resource supply 130; otherwise,the meter 112 continues to connect the premises 132 with the resourcesupply 130.

Similar to the payment-based token 204, the meter 112 will generate andtransmit a token application response 218 or an event message 222 to theheadend system 104 depending on where the meter 112 received thetime-based token 604. If the time-based token 604 is received from theheadend system 104, the meter 112 generates a token application response218 to report the status of the time-based token 604 received at themeter 112. In some implementations, the token application response 218includes the status of the time-based token 604, such as “token has beenapplied successfully at the meter,” “token is rejected because it isoutside the acceptable window,” “token is rejected because it is aduplicate,” “token is rejected because it failed integrity check,” andso on.

The token application response 218 can further include otherinformation, such as the time duration applied at the meter 112, or thestatus of the meter switch 134 (e.g. open/disconnected orclosed/connected). The token application response 218 may also includethe time-based token 604 or the serial number of the time-based token604, such as the TRN or the transaction ID. The token applicationresponse 218 may be sent along with other data sent from the meter 112to the headend system 104, such as the collected meter data, or sentseparately.

If the time-based token 604 is received through the handheld device 106,the meter 112 generates and transmits an event message 222 containingthe time-based token 604 to the headend system 104 to report thetime-based token 604. The event message 222 may also include other data,such as the status of the time-based token 604, the status of the meterswitch 134 or any other data that is included in the token applicationresponse 218. The event message 222 can also be sent to the headendsystem 104 along with other data, such as the collected meter data, orsent separately.

Upon receiving the event message 222, the headend system 104 analyzesthe time-based token 604 to determine whether the time-based token 604included in the event message 222 was generated by the headend system104, such as by searching in the past tokens generated by the headendsystem 104. The headend system 104 is then configured to send theanalysis results to the meter 112. If the analysis results show that thetime-based token 604 was not generated by the headend system 104, themeter 112 can disconnect the resource supply 130 and update the balanceassociated with the meter to reflect the resource consumption thatoccurred during the connection. The meter 112 may also cause thehandheld device 106 to display a warning message to indicate theanalysis results and the actions carried out by the meter 112 based onthe analysis results.

FIG. 8 shows an example of processes for generating and applying atime-based token 604 at a meter 112 in a resource distribution network,according to certain examples of the disclosure. In particular, FIG. 8includes processes 800A, 800B, and 800C. The process 800A illustratesaspects of the headend system 104. The process 800B illustrates aspectsof the meter 112. The process 800C illustrates the aspects of thehandheld device 106. The processes 800A, 800B, and 800C will bedescribed together below.

The process 800A begins at block 802 where the headend system 104receives a request for time-based token 616 for a meter 112. Asdiscussed above with regard to FIG. 6, the request for time-based token616 might be generated by the service system 210 in response to arequest by a user 120. At block 804, the process 800A involvesgenerating a time-based token 604 for the meter 112. To make thetime-based token 604 specific to the meter 112, the headend system 104generates the time-based token 604 based on an identifier of the meter112, such as the serial number of the meter 112, the network ID of themeter 112, or a combination thereof. In addition, the generatedtime-based token 604 also includes or is based on a serial number uniqueto the time-based token 604 in the mesh network 140, such as the TRN.The time-based token 604 also indicates the time duration for the meter112 to connect the resource supply 130 to the premises 132 as well asthe starting date of the time duration.

In one example, the time-based token 604 is generated according to theformat shown in FIG. 7, which includes a token type 702, a start date704-708, a token duration 710, a transaction ID 712 and an integrityfield 714. In some implementations, the integrity field 714 is generatedby using a secret key to generate an HMAC based on one or more of thefields 702-712 of the time-based token 604, the identifier of the meter112, such as the serial number and the network ID, and the TRN of thepayment-based token 204.

At block 806, the process 800A involves responding to the request fortime-based token 616 with the generated time-based token 604. Forexample, the headend system 104 sends the time-based token 604 to theentity that requested the time-based token 604, such as the servicesystem 210. If the user 120 authorizes the headend system 104 toautomatically apply the generated time-based token 604 to the meter 112,block 806 further involves applying the time-based token 604 to themeter 112 by sending the time-based token 604 to the meter 112. Theapplication of the payment-based token 204 to the meter 112 may beperformed immediately or with a certain delay, depending on theselection made by the user 120 when providing the authorization to theheadend system 104 to apply time-based token 604.

If the user 120 does not authorize the headend system 104 to apply thetime-based token 604 to the meter 112, the user 120 can manually inputthe time-based token 604 at the handheld device 106. At block 830, theprocess 800C involves receiving the time-based token 604 at the handhelddevice 106 through user input. At block 832, the process 800C involvessending the received time-based token 604 to the meter 112 through, forexample, a HAN.

At block 812, the process 800B involves the meter 112 receiving thetime-based token 604, either from the headend system 104 or from thehandheld device 106. At block 814, the process 800B involves validatingthe time-based token 604 to determine if the received time-based token604 is a valid token. The validation process might include for example,determining the integrity of the time-based token 604, determining thatthe time-based token 604 is generated for the meter 112, determiningthat the token is within the acceptable window, determining the token isnot a duplicate token, and so on. Additional details regardingvalidating the time-based token 604 are provided below with regard toFIG. 9.

At block 816, the process 800B involves determining whether thetime-based token 604 is a valid token based on the validation resultobtained in block 814. If not, the process 800B involves rejecting thetime-based token 604 at block 820. If the time-based token 604 is avalid token, the process 800B involves, at block 818, connecting theresource supply 130 starting from the start date specified in thetime-based token 604 and for the time duration indicated in the tokenduration field 710.

At block 822, the process 800B involves sending a token applicationresponse 218 as discussed above with regard to FIG. 6, if the time-basedtoken 604 is received from the headend system 104. In someimplementations, the token application response 218 includes informationsuch as the status of the time-based token 604 (such as accepted orrejected), the time duration specified in the time-based token 604, thestatus of the meter switch 134 (e.g. open/disconnected orclosed/connected), or other information. The token application response218 may also include the time-based token 604 or the serial number ofthe time-based token 604, such as the TRN or the transaction ID.

If the time-based token 604 is received from the handheld device 106,the meter 112 generates and sends an event message 222 to the headendsystem 104 to inform the headend system 104 about the receivedtime-based token 604 and requests the headend system 104 verify thetime-based token 604. The event message 222 may contain similar contentas the token application response 218, such as the status of thepayment-based token 204, the time duration specified in the time-basedtoken 604, the status of the meter switch 134 (e.g. open/disconnected orclosed/connected) and so on. The event message 222 also includes theentire time-based token 604 and a request for the headend system 104 toverify the authenticity of the time-based token 604. As discussed abovewith regard to FIG. 6, the token application response 218 or the eventmessage 222 may be sent along with the meter data collected at the meter112 or sent separately to the headend system 104.

The headend system 104 receives the token application response 218 orthe event message 222 at block 808 and processes the received messageaccordingly. For example, if the headend system 104 receives an eventmessage 222, the headend system 104 verifies the payment-based token 204contained in the event message 222 to determine if the time-based token604 was indeed generated by the headend system 104. The headend system104 notifies the meter 112 about the verification results, for example,by sending a notification to the meter 112. The meter 112 can takeactions according to the verification results, such as disconnecting theresource supply 130 from the premises 132 if the time-based token 604 isnot generated by the headend system 104.

If the time-based token 604 is received from the handheld device 106,the process 800B further involves the meter 112 sending a confirmationmessage to the handheld device 106 at block 824. The confirmationmessage can include, for example, the status of the time-based token 604(e.g. accepted or rejected), the time duration and the start datespecified in the time-based token 604, the status of the meter switch134 (e.g. open/disconnected or closed/connected) and the like. Thehandheld device 106 receives the confirmation message at block 834 andpresents it to the user 120 in a user interface.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a process 900 for validating a secure tokenat a meter 112, according to certain examples of the disclosure. Thesecure token can be a payment-based token 204 or a time-based token 604.The process 900 can be used to implement block 514 of the process 500Bor block 814 of the process 800B. The meter 112 (e.g., the meter in theenvironment 100, 200 or 600) implements operations depicted in FIG. 9 byexecuting suitable program code. For illustrative purposes, the process900 is described with reference to certain examples depicted in thefigures. Other implementations, however, are possible.

At block 902, the process 900 involves obtaining a secure token, such asthe payment-based token 204 described above with regard to FIGS. 2-5 orthe time-based token 604 described above with regard to FIGS. 6-8. Theprocess 900 further involves obtaining a secret key from theprovisioning data 202. As discussed above with regard to FIGS. 2 and 4,the headend system 104 includes a secret key in the provisioning data202 sent to the meter 112 during the provisioning process. The secretkey is used by the headend system 104 to generate the integrity field ofthe secure token.

At block 904, the process 900 involves decoding the secure token todetermine the individual fields contained in the secure token. Forexample, if the secure token is formatted as shown in FIG. 3 or 7, themeter 112 may determine the type of the secure code by examining thefirst two bits of the secure token, which shows the token type. If thetoken type is 0, then the meter 112 can determine that the secure tokenis a payment-based token 204; if the token type is 1, then the meter 112can determine that the secure token is a time-based token 604. Based onthe type of the secure token, the meter 112 can decode the rest of thefields of the token, such as the sub-type 304, the credit value 306, thetransaction ID 308 of the payment-based token 204, the integrity field310, or the starting date 704-708, the token duration 710, transactionID 712 and the integrity field 714 of the time-based token 604.

At block 906, the process 900 involves generating an authentication codefor the secure token using the secret key and verifying the integrity ofthe token based on the authentication code. In some implementations, themeter 112 can generate the authentication code in the same way as theheadend system 104 generates the integrity field 310 or 714 and usingthe same secret key. For example, the headend system 104 generates theintegrity field of the secure token by generating an HMAC based on theother fields of the secure token, the serial number of the meter 112,the network ID of the meter 112, and the TRN of the secure token andusing SHA-256 algorithm. In such an example, the meter 112 can apply thesame cryptograph algorithm using the same secret key on the decodedversion of the same fields, and other corresponding informationavailable at the meter 112, such as the serial number of the meter 112,the network ID of the meter 112. If the generated authentication codematches the data contained in the integrity field of the received securetoken, the meter 112 can determine that the secure token is intended forthe meter 112 and has not been altered. Otherwise, the integrityverification of the secure token has failed.

At block 908, the process 900 involves determining whether the integrityof the secure token has been verified based on the comparison resultsobtained at block 906. If not, the meter 112 can determine that thesecure token is invalid. If the meter 112 has successfully verified theintegrity of the secure token, the meter 112 can continue to examineother aspects of the secure token to determine its validity.

At block 910, the process 900 involves determining the currentacceptable window for the TRN or transaction ID (TID) of the securetoken. If the TRN or the transaction ID of the secure token falls withinthe acceptable window, then the meter 112 can accept the secure token;otherwise, the meter 112 will reject the secure token. The meter 112 candetermine the acceptable window based on the token acceptance parametersin the provisioning data 202. In some examples, the token acceptanceparameters include a TID_(F), a TID_(POS) and a TID_(NEG). Here, theTID_(F) represents a floor value of acceptable TIDs. In other words, thelowest TID that is acceptable at the meter 112 is TID_(F). TID_(POS)represents the largest positive offset of an acceptable TID compared toa current acceptable TID, TID_(current). TID_(NEG) represents thelargest negative offset of an acceptable TID compared to theTID_(current). In other words, the TID_(POS) and TID_(NEG) define anacceptable window for the TID of a received secure token, i.e.[TID_(current)−TID_(NEG),TID_(current)+TID_(POS)]. Here, theTID_(current)−TID_(NEG) defines the lower boundary of the acceptablewindow and TID_(current)+TID_(POS) defines the upper boundary of theacceptable window. However, note that because an acceptable TID cannotbe lower than the TID_(F), the acceptable window can be reformulated as:

[max(TID_(F),TID_(current)−TID_(NEG)),TID_(current)+TID_(POS)].

The current acceptable TID, TID_(current), is updated by the meter 112based on the received secure tokens. In one example, the TID_(current)is set to be the highest TID of the secure tokens that have beenpreviously received at the meter 112, including both the payment-basedtoken 204 and the time-based token 604. If the currently received securetoken has a TID falling inside this acceptable window, the meter 112 candetermine that the secure token is acceptable; otherwise, the securetoken is unacceptable.

For example, if TID_(current) is 10, TID_(POS) is 5, TID_(NEG) is 3 andTID_(F) is 4, the acceptable window becomes [7, 15]. Any secure tokenwith a TID lower than 7 or higher than 15 is not acceptable at the meter112 at this moment. This mechanism prevents the order of the securetokens being applied from deviating too significantly from the order ofthe TRNs generated for the secure tokens. In the above example, theacceptable window of [7, 15] ensures that the TID of an acceptablesecure token is close to 10, a TID that has been accepted at the meter112.

Note that in this example, the TID is used to determine the acceptablewindow for the secure token, and the TID is a truncated version of thefull TRN of the secure token, such as the 10 least significant bits ofthe TRN. As the current received TID exceeds its maximum number, e.g.1023, the TID will return to 0 and start increasing one by one. Themeter 112 can be configured to recognize this scenario, and adjust theacceptable window accordingly. For example, the meter 112 mightdetermine the lower boundary of the acceptable window to be 1021 and theupper boundary of the acceptable window to be 3. In this example, anytoken with a TID falling within [1021, 1022, 1023, 0, 1, 2, 3] isacceptable.

At block 912, the process 900 involves determining whether the TID ofthe received secure token falls within the acceptable window. The meter112 further determines whether the secure token is a duplicate tokenthat has been received and applied before. The meter 112 can access thepast token IDs 220 stored at the meter 112 to detect duplication. If themeter 112 determines that the TID of the secure token is outside theacceptable window or that the secure token has been applied before, themeter 112 determines, at block 916, that the secure token is invalid.Otherwise, the meter 112 determines, at block 914, that the secure tokenis a valid token.

In normal situations, the headend system 104 is available for thegeneration of the payment-based tokens or time-based tokens,communicating with the meters 112 to apply secure tokens at the meters112, etc. In other situations, however, the mesh network 140 mightbecome unavailable or unstable and the headend system 104 might becomeunavailable, such as in an extreme weather condition or naturaldisaster. In these situations, it would be impossible for users 120 tomake payment to request payment-based tokens or to request time-basedtokens. In order for users to be able to continue to use the resource inthese extreme situations, the headend system 104 is further configuredto issue global tokens.

As briefly discussed above, a global token is a type of secure tokenthat is not specific to any meter 112. In other words, the same globaltoken can be applied at multiple meters 112 in the mesh network 140.Each global token has a time duration associated therewith instructingthe meter 112 to keep the resource supply 130 connected for that timeduration. By using global tokens, users 120 can have access to resourcesupply even if the headend system 104 becomes unavailable to generatetokens based on user requests.

FIG. 10 shows an illustrative operating environment 1000 for generatingand applying global tokens at meters 112 in a resource distributionnetwork, according to certain examples of the disclosure. Theenvironment 1000 includes the utility system 102, the headend system104, and the meters 112 and their associated handheld devices 106 asdiscussed above with regard with FIGS. 1-9. FIG. 10 shows one of themeters 112 in the resource distribution network.

In some examples, the utility company might determine that a specialsituation has arisen, such as the weather forecast shows an extremeweather condition is coming, and the headend system 104 might becomeunavailable for a period of time. The utility company can decide toissue a global token to the meters 112 in the network by sending aglobal token request 1002 to the headend system 104 through the utilitysystem 102. The global token request 1002 can specify the time durationassociated with the global token.

Upon receiving the global token request 1002, the headend system 104 cangenerate or otherwise obtain a global token 1004 that is associated withthe specified time duration. In some implementations, the headend system104 generates the global token 1004 in response to the global tokenrequest 1002. In other implementations, the global token 1004 isobtained from a global token table 1010 stored at a location that isaccessed by the headend system 104. In one example, the global tokentable 1010 includes a list of global tokens that are acceptable by themeters 112. Each of the global tokens in the global token table 1010 ismapped to a time duration. As such, the headend system 104 can retrievethe corresponding global token 1004 based on the time duration specifiedin the global token request 1002.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the global token table 1010, according tocertain examples of the disclosure. In this example, the global tokentable 1010 includes a list of global tokens 1108A-1108K. For each globaltoken in this list, there is a time duration 1104 associated therewith.For example, global token 1 in the example shown in FIG. 11 has a timeduration of 1 day; global token 2 has a time duration of 2 days; and theglobal token N has a time duration of M number of days. Here, M can beany positive integer, such as 127.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the global token table 1010 also havean application flag 1106 for each global token in the table to indicatewhether the corresponding global token has been applied or used or not.For example, if global token 2 has been used last time when there was ahurricane in the area, the application flag for global token 2 can beset to YES indicating that this global token has been used. As such,each time when the headend system 104 issues a global token, the headendsystem 104 will select a global token from the global token table 1010that corresponds to the requested time duration and that has not beenused before. One benefit of only allowing a global token to be used onceis to prevent fraud and misuse of the token. For example, if a globaltoken is allowed to be used repeatedly, then a user who was authorized,but is no longer authorized to access the resource supply could use apast global token to get the resource while the headend is available atthe special situation. Using the global token once can prevent this kindof issues.

It should be understood that the example of the global token table 1010shown in FIG. 11 is for illustration purpose only and should not beconstrued as limiting. The global token table 1010 may be constructed inany other formats. For example, the global token table 1010 may includeonly the global token and the corresponding time duration without theapplication flag. In such a scenario, whether a global token has beenused or not may be indicated using other mechanisms.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a global token 1004 that can be applied at ameter 112 in a resource distribution network, according to certainexamples of the disclosure. In this example, a global token 1004contains 66 bits which is equivalent to 20 decimal digits. The size ofthe global token 1004 is the same as the size of the time-based token604 shown in FIG. 7 and is the same as the size of the payment-basedtoken 204 shown in FIG. 3. Similar to the payment-based token 204 andthe time-based token 604, the first two bits of the global token 1004 isused to represent the token type 1202. In some examples, if the value ofthe token type 1202 is 3, then the token is a global token. Other valuesof the token type can be used to indicate other types of secure tokens.The next 64 bits of the global token 1004 shown in FIG. 12 contains arandom number that uniquely identifies the global token 1004.

Returning to FIG. 10, in some examples, the global token table 1010 isgenerated at the headend system 104 by generating the global tokens 1004and their corresponding time durations. In other examples, the globaltoken table 1010 is generated by the utility system 102 or anothersystem associated with the utility company and transmitted to theheadend system 104. In either case, the headend system 104 alsotransmits the global token table 1010 to the meters 112 via the meshnetwork 140. In some implementations, the global token table 1010 can betransmitted to each meter 112 in the corresponding provisioning data 202transmitted to the meter 112. In other implementations, the global tokentable 1010 is transmitted to the meter 112 separately from theprovisioning data 202.

Based on the global token table 1010, the headend system 104 canretrieve a global token 1004 as specified in the global token request1002. The headend system 104 further causes the global token 1004 to bebroadcast through a broadcast network 1008. The broadcast network 1008is different from the mesh network 140 because the mesh network 140might have already become unavailable or unstable. The broadcast network1008 may be a radio network, a TV network, an Internet, a cellularnetwork, or any other type of networks that can be utilized to broadcastthe global token 1004 so that users 120 can be notified about the globaltoken 1004.

After obtaining the global token 1004 through the broadcast network1008, the user 120 can input the global token 1004 to the meter 112,such as through the handheld device 106. The meter 112 verifies thereceived global token 1004 by determining if the received global token1004 is included in the global token table 1010 and has not been usedbefore. If so, the meter 112 can determine that the global token 1004 isa valid token. Otherwise, the global token 1004 is an invalid token andis rejected by the meter 112.

In some examples, the meter 112 determines that a global token has beenused before by checking the application flag 1106 associated with theglobal token 1004 in the global token table 1010. If the applicationflag 1106 indicates that the global token 1004 has not been used before,the meter 112 applies the global token 1004 at the meter 112 byconnecting the resource supply 130 for the time duration associated withthe global token 1004. The meter 112 also updates the application flag1106 for the global token 1004 in the global token table 1010 toindicate that this global token 1004 has now been used.

After the special situation is over and the mesh network 140 and theheadend system 104 have recovered, the meter 112 can transmit an eventmessage 1012 to the headend system 104 to report the global token 1004processed by the meter 112. The event message 1012 might include theglobal token 1004 received by the meter 112 and other data, such as thestatus of the global token 1004 (applied or rejected), the time durationspecified in the global token 1004, the time when the global token 1004was applied, the status of the meter switch 134 and so on. The eventmessage 1012 can be sent separately to the headend system 104 or alongwith other data sent from the meter 112, such as the meter datacollected by the meter 112.

After receiving the event message 1012, the headend system 104 analyzesthe global token 1004 included in the event message 1012 to determinewhether the global token 1004 was generated or issued by the headendsystem 104, such as by searching the global token table 1010. Theheadend system 104 is then configured to send the analysis results tothe meter 112. If the analysis results show that the global token 1004was not properly issued by the headend system 104, the meter 112 candisconnect the resource supply 130 and update the balance associatedwith the meter 112 to reflect the resource consumption that occurredduring the time duration when the connection was established. The meter112 may also cause the handheld device 106 to display a warning messageto indicate the analysis results and the actions carried out by themeter 112 based on the analysis results.

As mentioned above, in some examples, each global token 1004 is allowedto be used once. As such, after a global token 1004 is issued, theheadend system 104 will label such a global token 1004 as having beenused and thus will not use it again. After all or a portion of theglobal tokens in the current global token table 1010 have been used, theheadend system 104 or the utility system 102 or another systemassociated with the utility company can generate a new global tokentable 1010 containing a different set of global tokens. In furtherexamples, a global token table 1010 is configured to be acceptable for agiven period of time and the global tokens contained in the global tokentable 1010 may only be used during that period of time. As such, a newglobal token table 1010 can also be generated for another period of timeif the current period of time has expired.

The headend system 104 stores the new global token table 1010 and alsotransmits the new global token table 1010 to the meters 112 in the meshnetwork 140 to replace the existing global token table 1010. Thereafter,the next global token 1004 will be selected from the new global tokentable 1010 based on the time duration specified in the global tokenrequest 1002.

FIG. 13 shows an example of processes for issuing and applying a globaltoken at a meter, according to certain examples of the disclosure. Theexample shown in FIG. 13 assumes that the global token table 1010 hasbeen generated and stored at the headend system 104 and has beentransmitted to the meters 112 in the mesh network 140. In particular,FIG. 13 includes processes 1300A, 1300B and 1300C. The process 1300Aillustrates aspects of the headend system 104. The process 1300Billustrates aspects of the meter 112. The process 1300C illustrates theaspects of the handheld device 106. The processes 1300A, 1300B, and1300C will be described together below.

The process 1300A begins at block 1302 where the headend system 104determines a global token 1004 based on a global token request 1002. Inone example, the headend system 104 determines the global token 1004 byselecting a global token from the global token table 1010 that has atime duration as specified in the global token request 1002 and has notbeen used before. At block 1304, the process 1300A involves causing theglobal token 1004 to be broadcast through one or more broadcast networks1008.

The process 1300C begins at block 1312, where the handheld device 106receives the global token 1004 through user input using, e.g. a keyboardor an image scanning device. At block 1314, the process 1300C involvessending the global token 1004 to the meter 112.

The process 1300B begins at block 1322, where the meter 112 receives theglobal token 1004 from the handheld device 106. At block 1324, theprocess 1300B involves verifying the global token 1004 and furtherinvolves determining the time duration associated with the global token1004. In some examples, the meter 112 verifies the global token 1004 bydetermining whether the global token 1004 is listed in the global tokentable 1010. The meter 112 further determines whether the global token1004 has been used before, for example, by examining the applicationflag 1106 for the global token 1004 in the global token table 1010. Ifthe meter 112 determines that the global token 1004 is listed in theglobal token table 1010 and has not been used before, the meter 112determines that the global token 1004 is a valid token; otherwise, themeter 112 rejects the global token 1004 as an invalid token.

At block 1326, the process 1300B involves, after determining that theglobal token 1004 is a valid token, connecting the premises 132 to theresource supply 130 for the time duration associated with the globaltoken 1004. The meter 112 further updates the application flagassociated with the global token 1004 to indicates that the global token1004 has been applied at the meter 112. At block 1328, the process 1300Cinvolves sending a confirmation message to the handheld device 106 toindicate the status of the global token 1004, such as being applied orrejected. The handheld device 106 receives that confirmation message atblock 1316 and presents it to the user 120 through a user interface.

At block 1330, the process 1300B involves generating and sending anevent message 1012 to the headend system 104. This occurs after the meshnetwork 140 and the headend system 104 are recovered and becomeavailable. The event message 1012 can include the global token 1004received by the meter 112, the status of the global token 1004 (appliedor rejected), the time duration specified in the global token 1004, thetime when the global token 1004 was applied, the status of the meterswitch 134 and so on.

At block 1306, the headend system 104 receives the event message 1012and processes the event message 1012 to determine if the global token1004 contained in the message is indeed issued by the headend system104. The headend system 104 may also determine if the global token 1004was applied during the period of time when the global token table 1010was acceptable. As described above in detail with regard to FIG. 10,additional actions will be taken at the meter 112 if the headend system104 determines that the global token 1004 was not issued properly by theheadend system 104.

It should be understood that while the three types of secure tokens arediscussed separately in the above description, they can co-exist in thesystem. In other words, the headend system 104 can be configured togenerate or issue a payment-based token 204, a time-based token 604 or aglobal token 1004 depending on the received request. Each meter 112 inthe mesh network 140 can also be configured to recognize and processthese three types of secure tokens. FIG. 14 shows an example of aprocess 1400 for receiving and processing a secure token at a meter,according to certain examples of the disclosure. One or more nodes ormeters of the mesh network 140 (e.g., the meter 112 or the root node114) implement operations depicted in FIG. 14 by executing suitableprogram code. For illustrative purposes, the process 1400 is describedwith reference to certain examples depicted in the figures. Otherimplementations, however, are possible.

At block 1402, the process 1400 involves receiving a secure token. Thesecure token may be a payment-based token 204, a time-based token 604,or a global token 1004. The secure token may be received from theheadend system 104 via the mesh network 140 or from the handheld device106 via a HAN or other connections.

At block 1404, the process 1400 involves decoding the secure token todetermine the type of the secure token. For example, if the tokenformats for the three types of secure tokens follow those shown in FIGS.3, 7 and 12, the meter 112 can determine the type of the secure token byexamining the first two bits of the received token. In the examplesshown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 12, if the value of first two bits of the tokenis 0, then the token is a payment-based token 204; if the value is 1,then the token is a time-based token 604; and if the value is 3, thenthe token is a global token 1004.

Depending on the type of the secure token, the process 1400 involvesdifferent operations. If the secure token is a payment-based token 204,the process 1400 involves, at block 1406, processing the secure tokenaccording to process 500B discussed above with regard to FIG. 5. If thesecure token is a time-based token 604, the process 1400 involves, atblock 1408, processing the secure token according to process 800Bdiscussed above with regard to FIG. 8. If the secure token is a globaltoken 1004, the process 1400 involves, at block 1410, processing thesecure token according to process 1300B discussed above with regard toFIG. 13.

It should be understood that although the present disclosure focuses ona resource distribution network configured for distributing resources topremises, such as water, gas, electricity, steam, the technologiespresented herein can also be applied to other types of resources. Forexample, the technologies presented herein can be utilized to controlthe access to cellular resources. A user of cellular resource can eitherrequest a payment-based token by making a payment to his account orrequest a time-based token using a service system, such as a servicesystem. These two types of tokens are generated to be specific to hiscellphone, for example, by using the international mobile equipmentidentify (IMEI) number of the cellphone. In this way, the payment-basedtoken or the time-based token can only be applied at the user'scellphone. Likewise, a global token might be generated and broadcast tousers of the cellular resource in cases where the system responsible forgenerating the secure tokens becomes unavailable. In those cases, userscan input the global token to their cellphones to continue using thecellular resource. Access to other resources, such as network resources,online computing resources, online storage resources, can also becontrolled in a similar way.

Exemplary Meter

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary meter 1500 that can be employed toimplement the secure token processing mechanism described herein, suchas a meter 112 or a root node 114. The meter 1500 includes acommunication module 1516 and a metrology module 1518 connected througha local or serial connection 1530. These two modules may be housed inthe same unit on separate boards hence the local connection 1530 may bean on-board socket. Alternatively, the modules may be housed separatelyand thus the local connection 1530 may be a communication cable, such asa USB cable, or another conductor. Since these two components may bephysically separate, the communication module 1516 and the metrologymodule 1518 may be removed or replaced independently of each other.

The function of the communication module 1516 includes receiving andsending messages, including the secure tokens, through the mesh network140. The function of the metrology module 1518 includes the functionsnecessary to manage the resource, in particular, to allow access to theresource and to measure the resource used. The communication module 1516may include a communication device 1512 such as an antenna and a radio.Alternatively, the communication device 1512 may be any device thatallows wireless or wired communication. The communication module 1516may also include a processor 1513, and memory 1514. The communicationdevice 1512 is used to receive and send messages through the network140. The processor 1513 controls functions performed by thecommunication module 1516. The memory 1514 may be utilized to store dataused by the processor 1513 to perform its function. The memory 1514 mayalso store the data contained in the provisioning data 202, such as thesecret key and the acceptance parameters.

The metrology module 1518 may include a processor 1521, memory 1522, andmeasurement circuitry 1523. The processor 1521 in the metrology module1518 controls functions performed by the metrology module 1518. Thememory 1522 stores data needed by the processor 1521 to perform itsfunctions, such as the global token table 1010 used to validate a globaltoken. In some examples, other data in the provisioning data 202 is alsostored in the memory 1502 of the metrology module 1518, rather than inthe memory 1514 of the communication module 1516. In either case, thecommunication module 1516 and the metrology module 1518 communicate witheach other through the local connection 1530 to provide data needed bythe other module. The measurement circuitry 1523 handles the measuringof the resource and may also handle the recording of measurements taken.Both the communication module 1516 and the metrology module 1518 mayinclude computer-executable instructions stored in memory or in anothertype of computer-readable medium and one or more processors within themodules may execute the instructions to provide the functions describedherein.

Example of a Headend System for Implementing Certain Embodiments

Any suitable computing system or group of computing systems can be usedfor performing the operations described herein. For example, FIG. 16depicts an example of the computing system 1600. The implementation ofcomputing system 1600 could be used for the headend system 104.

The depicted example of a computing system 1600 includes a processor1602 communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices 1604. Theprocessor 1602 executes computer-executable program code stored in amemory device 1604, accesses information stored in the memory device1604, or both. Examples of the processor 1602 include a microprocessor,an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), afield-programmable gate array (“FPGA”), or any other suitable processingdevice. The processor 1602 can include any number of processing devices,including a single processing device.

A memory device 1604 includes any suitable non-transitorycomputer-readable medium for storing program code 1605 (e.g. the codeused for generating the payment-based tokens or the time-based tokens),program data 1607 (e.g. the global token table), or both. Acomputer-readable medium can include any electronic, optical, magnetic,or other storage device capable of providing a processor withcomputer-readable instructions or other program code. Non-limitingexamples of a computer-readable medium include a magnetic disk, a memorychip, a ROM, a RAM, an ASIC, optical storage, magnetic tape or othermagnetic storage, or any other medium from which a processing device canread instructions. The instructions may include processor-specificinstructions generated by a compiler or an interpreter from code writtenin any suitable computer-programming language, including, for example,C, C++, C #, Visual Basic, Java, Python, Perl, JavaScript, andActionScript.

The computing system 1600 executes program code 1605 that configures theprocessor 1602 to perform one or more of the operations describedherein. Examples of the program code 1605 include, in variousembodiments, the program code used to generate the payment-based tokens,the program code used to generate the time-based tokens, the programcode used to verify the payment-based tokens, time-based tokens orglobal tokens, or other suitable applications that perform one or moreoperations described herein. The program code may be resident in thememory device 1604 or any suitable computer-readable medium and may beexecuted by the processor 1602 or any other suitable processor.

In some embodiments, one or more memory devices 1604 stores program data1607 that includes one or more datasets described herein. Examples ofthese datasets include past secure tokens, the global token table, etc.In some embodiments, one or more of data sets, models, and functions arestored in the same memory device (e.g., one of the memory devices 1604).In additional or alternative embodiments, one or more of the programs,data sets, models, and functions described herein are stored indifferent memory devices 1604 accessible via a data network. One or morebuses 1606 are also included in the computing system 1600. The buses1606 communicatively couples one or more components of a respective oneof the computing system 1600.

In some embodiments, the computing system 1600 also includes a networkinterface device 1610. The network interface device 1610 includes anydevice or group of devices suitable for establishing a wired or wirelessdata connection to one or more data networks. Non-limiting examples ofthe network interface device 1610 include an Ethernet network adapter, amodem, and/or the like. The computing system 1600 is able to communicatewith one or more other computing devices (e.g., the root nodes 114) viaa data network using the network interface device 1610.

The computing system 1600 may also include a number of external orinternal devices, an input device 1620, a presentation device 1618, orother input or output devices. For example, the computing system 1600 isshown with one or more input/output (“I/O”) interfaces 1608. An I/Ointerface 1608 can receive input from input devices or provide output tooutput devices. An input device 1620 can include any device or group ofdevices suitable for receiving visual, auditory, or other suitable inputthat controls or affects the operations of the processor 1602.Non-limiting examples of the input device 1620 include a touchscreen, amouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a separate mobile computing device,etc. A presentation device 1618 can include any device or group ofdevices suitable for providing visual, auditory, or other suitablesensory output. Non-limiting examples of the presentation device 1618include a touchscreen, a monitor, a speaker, a separate mobile computingdevice, etc.

Although FIG. 16 depicts the input device 1620 and the presentationdevice 1618 as being local to the computing device that executes theheadend system 104, other implementations are possible. For instance, insome embodiments, one or more of the input device 1620 and thepresentation device 1618 can include a remote client-computing devicethat communicates with the computing system 1600 via the networkinterface device 1610 using one or more data networks described herein.

General Considerations

Numerous specific details are set forth herein to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the claimed subject matter. However, those skilled inthe art will understand that the claimed subject matter may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, methods,apparatuses, or systems that would be known by one of ordinary skillhave not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subjectmatter.

The features discussed herein are not limited to any particular hardwarearchitecture or configuration. A computing device can include anysuitable arrangement of components that provide a result conditioned onone or more inputs. Suitable computing devices include multipurposemicroprocessor-based computer systems accessing stored software (i.e.,computer-readable instructions stored on a memory of the computersystem) that programs or configures the computing system from ageneral-purpose computing apparatus to a specialized computing apparatusimplementing one or more aspects of the present subject matter. Anysuitable programming, scripting, or other type of language orcombinations of languages may be used to implement the teachingscontained herein in software to be used in programming or configuring acomputing device.

Aspects of the methods disclosed herein may be performed in theoperation of such computing devices. The order of the blocks presentedin the examples above can be varied; for example, blocks can bere-ordered, combined, and/or broken into sub-blocks. Certain blocks orprocesses can be performed in parallel.

The use of “adapted to” or “configured to” herein is meant as an openand inclusive language that does not foreclose devices adapted to orconfigured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the useof “based on” is meant to be open and inclusive, in that a process,step, calculation, or other action “based on” one or more recitedconditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditionsor values beyond those recited. Headings, lists, and numbering includedherein are for ease of explanation only and are not meant to belimiting.

While the present subject matter has been described in detail withrespect to specific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that thoseskilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing,may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents tosuch aspects. Accordingly, it should be understood that the presentdisclosure has been presented for purposes of example rather thanlimitation and does not preclude inclusion of such modifications,variations, and/or additions to the present subject matter as would bereadily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a headend system configuredfor: receiving a request to issue a global token for a plurality ofmeters, the request specifying a time duration for the global token;determining the global token based on the time duration, wherein theglobal token is applicable to the plurality of meters and; and causingthe global token to be broadcast via a broadcast network; and aplurality of meters installed at a plurality of geographical locationsand in communication with the headend system through at least a meshnetwork in a normal condition, wherein the broadcast network is distinctfrom the mesh network, each meter of the plurality of meters configuredfor: receiving and verifying the global token; determining the timeduration associated with the global token; and applying the global tokenby connecting premises associated with the meter to a resourcedistribution network for at least the time duration associated with theglobal token.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the headend system isfurther configured for, prior to generating the global token, sendingprovisioning data to the plurality of meters via at least the meshnetwork, the provisioning data comprising a global token table.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the global token table comprises a list ofglobal tokens that are acceptable at the plurality of meters and a timeduration associated with each global token in the list of global tokens.4. The system of claim 3, wherein verifying the global token comprisesdetermining that the global token is in the list of global tokens,wherein determining the time duration associated with the global tokencomprises looking up the global token table to determine the timeduration.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein each global token in thelist of global tokens is used once, and wherein the meter is furtherconfigured for, after applying the global token, updating an applicationflag for the global token to indicate that the global token has beenused in the global token table.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein themeter is further configured for in response to determining that the timeduration associated with the global token has passed, determining abalance associated with the meter; and disconnecting the premisesassociated with the meter from the resource distribution network inresponse to determining that the balance associated with the meter isbelow a threshold value.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the globaltoken is received from a device coupled to the meter; and the meter isfurther configured for: generating and transmitting an event message tothe headend system via at least the mesh network, wherein the eventmessage comprises the global token.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinthe headend system is further configured for: in response to receivingthe event message, verifying that the global token specified in theevent message was generated by the headend system; in response todetermining that the global token specified in the event message was notgenerated by the headend system, transmitting to the meter anotification indicating that the global token was not generated by theheadend system; and wherein the meter is further configured for inresponse to receiving the notification indicating that the global tokenwas not generated by the headend system; and disconnecting the premisesassociated with the meter from the resource distribution network.
 9. Amethod, comprising: receiving, by a meter, a global token, wherein themeter is configured to control a connection of premises associated withthe meter to a resource distribution network, wherein the global tokenis applicable to a plurality of meters comprising the meter and isassociated with a time duration for which the premises are to beconnected to the resource distribution network; verifying, by the meter,the global token; determining, by the meter, the time durationassociated with the global token; and applying the global token byconnecting the premises associated with the meter to a resourcedistribution network for at least the time duration associated with theglobal token.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the timeduration associated with the global token is performed based on a globaltoken table, and wherein the global token table is received from aheadend system via at least a mesh network prior to receiving the globaltoken.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the global token tablecomprises a list of global tokens that are acceptable at the pluralityof meters and a time duration associated with each global token in thelist of global tokens, and wherein verifying the global token comprisesdetermining that the global token is in the list of global tokens. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein each global token in the list of globaltokens is used once, and wherein the meter is further configured for,after applying the global token, updating an application flag for theglobal token to indicate that the global token has been used in theglobal token table.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:prior to applying the global token, determining whether the global tokenhas been used before based on the global token table; and in response todetermining that the global token has been used before, rejecting theglobal token.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receivinga second global token table from the headend system via at least themesh network, wherein the second global token table comprises a secondlist of global tokens and a time duration associated with each globaltoken of the second list of global tokens and wherein the second list ofglobal tokens are different from the list of global tokens.
 15. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising: in response to determining thatthe time duration associated with the global token has passed,determining a balance associated with the meter; and disconnecting thepremises associated with the meter from the resource distributionnetwork in response to determining that the balance associated with themeter is below a threshold value.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein theglobal token is received from a device coupled to the meter; and themethod further comprising: generating and transmitting an event messageto a headend system for verification of the global token, wherein theevent message comprises the global token.
 17. A method, comprising:sending, by a headend system, provisioning data to a meter via at leasta mesh network, wherein the provisioning data comprises a global tokentable, and wherein the meter is installed at a geographical location andconfigured to control a connection of premises associated with the meterto a resource distribution network; receiving, by the headend system, arequest to issue a global token associated with a time duration for aplurality of meters comprising the meter; determining, by the headendsystem, the global token based on the time duration; and causing theglobal token to be broadcast via a network distinct from the meshnetwork, wherein the global token is usable by the meter to connect thepremises to the resource distribution network based on the time durationassociated with the global token.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe global token table comprises a list of global tokens that areacceptable at the plurality of meters and a time duration associatedwith each global token in the list of global tokens.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein determining the global token based on the timeduration is performed by looking up the global token table to determinethe global token based on the time duration.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising: in response to receiving an event message from themeter that comprises a particular global token, verifying that theparticular global token specified in the event message was issued by theheadend system; and in response to determining that the particularglobal token was not issued by the headend system, transmitting to themeter a notification indicating that the global token was not issued bythe headend system, wherein the notification cause the meter todisconnect the premises from the resource distribution network.